What is the Difference Between Guanine and Guanosine?

Guanine and guanosine are related nucleic acid components, but they have distinct differences:

1. Structure: Guanine is a nucleobase, one of the four main nucleobases found in DNA and RNA (the others being adenine, cytosine, and thymine/uracil). Guanosine, on the other hand, is a nucleoside, which consists of guanine attached to a ribose sugar via a β-N9-glycosidic bond.
2. Function: Guanine is a building block of DNA and RNA, while guanosine plays a role in various biochemical processes, such as the synthesis of nucleic acids, photosynthesis, muscle contraction, and intracellular signal transduction.
3. Physical properties: Guanine is a white amorphous solid, whereas guanosine is a white crystalline powder with no odor and a mild saline taste. Guanosine is soluble in acetic acid and slightly soluble in water, but insoluble in ethanol, diethyl ether, benzene, and chloroform.

In summary, the main difference between guanine and guanosine is that guanine is a nucleobase, while guanosine is a nucleoside consisting of guanine and a ribose sugar. Guanine is a building block of nucleic acids, while guanosine plays a role in various biochemical processes.

Comparative Table: Guanine vs Guanosine

Here is a table comparing the differences between guanine and guanosine:

In summary, guanine is a nucleobase that pairs with cytosine in DNA and RNA, while guanosine is a nucleoside consisting of a guanine base and a ribose sugar in RNA. The main difference between the two is the presence of a phosphate group in guanosine.